Covers of the three booklets Bright Young Girl in the Abyss of a Poisonous Snake, vol. 3
- Date:
- 1880
- Medium:
- Woodblock print (nishiki-e), ink and color on paper
- Format:
- Oban
- Dimensions:
- 17.2 × 34.6 cm
- Source:
- Minneapolis Institute of Art
Description
Three booklet covers from a serialized thriller — "Bright Young Girl in the Abyss of a Poisonous Snake, vol. 3" — revealing Chikanobu's extensive work as a cover illustrator for the popular fiction publications that proliferated in Meiji Japan. Illustrated booklet covers required eye-catching images that conveyed the genre — romance, adventure, supernatural horror — at a glance, and Chikanobu's involvement in this market demonstrates his fluency across multiple commercial formats. The snake and young girl combination promises precisely the transgressive excitement that popular fiction delivered.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Covers of the three booklets Bright Young Girl in the Abyss of a Poisonous Snake, vol. 3 was created by Toyohara Chikanobu (豊原周延) in 1880.
Covers of the three booklets Bright Young Girl in the Abyss of a Poisonous Snake, vol. 3 depicts children and animals.
Covers of the three booklets Bright Young Girl in the Abyss of a Poisonous Snake, vol. 3 measures 17.2 × 34.6 cm (Oban format).